Florida International University´s Executive Director of Sports and Entertainment Pete Garcia announced today a three-year partnership with Ocean Bank, resulting in the naming of the Panther football team’s home field, which will now be called “Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium.”

“We are proud of the relationship we have forged with Ocean Bank over many years, working together for our community and our students’ success,” said FIU President Mark B. Rosenberg. “We thank Ocean Bank for their generous support of our student-athletes and I look forward to an exciting season on the Ocean Bank Field.”

Among its many contributions, Ocean Bank committed $1 million to the university’s College of Business, which was used to build Ocean Bank Auditorium at FIU.

“Since our founding in 1982, we have grown alongside FIU and supported its development into a major research university and one of the largest in the nation,” said Ocean Bank Chairman A. Alfonso Macedo.

“This partnership with Ocean Bank is another example of the tremendous support for the FIU Athletic Department and its football program,” Garcia said. “I want to personally thank A. Alfonso Macedo, the Ocean Bank administration and its board of directors for their support.”

Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium has hosted many events such as the 2009 and 2011 CONCACAF Gold Cup, the annual Belen-Columbus football game, concerts, non-intercollegiate sporting events and other community activities.

Ocean Bank Field at FIU Stadium will play host to a program-record-setting eight football home games this season, with six of those contests being televised as part of Conference USA’s national television package.

In addition, Ocean Bank board members and executives are active supporters of the university. Macedo serves on the Dean’s Council of the FIU College of Business, and the FIU President’s Council includes board member and former Federal Reserve Bank Miami Regional Executive Juan del Busto, and Ralph Gonzalez-Jacobo, Ocean Bank’s executive vice president and head of branch administration. Both are FIU alumni.

The 2014 FIU football season kicks off on Aug. 30 when the Panthers host the Bethune-Cookman Wildcats. Game time is slated for 7 p.m. and will be broadcast on C-USA’s newly launched American Sports Network (ASN), a collegiate sports initiative that will air on a number of Sinclair’s broadcast television stations. For ticket information, contact the University Credit Union Box Office at 305-FIU-GAME (348-4263).

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